Applications for our 2025 class will be available soon. If you would like to have an application e-mailed to you when they are available, send an e-mail to bpa@lakelandcc.edu and put "Application Request" in the subject line.

Lakeland's Basic Police Academy is administered by the College in conjunction with the Ohio Peace Officers Training Council (OPOTC). The Basic Police Academy is required training to become a police officer in the State of Ohio. The curriculum includes all topics required by the OPOTC, and others as determined by the Academy Commander. Attendance at all classes is mandatory. To maintain a safe and quality learning environment, the size of a police academy class will not exceed 30 students/cadets.

Please contact us with any questions.

How to become a Police Officer in Ohio

To become a police officer in Ohio, applicants must complete a Peace Officer Basic Training Academy that is approved by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC).

Lakeland provides an open enrollment police academy, meaning that if you meet the qualifications listed below, you are eligible to enroll in our police academy.

Find more information from the Ohio Attorney General here.

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be 20 years of age by the start of the Academy.
• Must be a high school graduate or GED equivalent.
• Must possess a valid Ohio driver's license.
• Must pass Lakeland's Psychological exam prior to acceptance into the Academy.
• Must pass the OPOTC Physical Fitness Assessment evaluation prior to acceptance into the Academy.
• Must pass a drug screen test prior to acceptance into the police academy.
• Must not have any felony convictions or serious misdemeanors.
• A sealed or expunged felony convictions as an adult and/or juvenile may exclude applicant from entering the police academy.
• Must not have a conviction of any domestic violence offense as defined in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2919.25.
• Must not have more than one OVI conviction within the past three years. OVI convictions greatly reduce your potential to be hired by a police department.
• Must not have any misdemeanor convictions within the past two years of the start of the application process (minor misdemeanors excluded*).
• Must not have any convictions for a sex offense as defined in Ohio Revised Code 2907.
• Must not have any convictions for any offense of violence as defined in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2901.01(A)(9).

More information on requirements and minor misdemeanor exclusion.